Nelly's Net Worth (Updated 2022) | Wealthy Gorilla

Net Worth:	$8 Million
Age:	51
Born:	November 2, 1974
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Professional Singer/Rapper
Last Updated:	Dec 23, 2025

Table of Contents

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• Introduction
• Music Career
• HarborView Music Catalog Sale
• Tax Debts & Penalties
• Real Estate
• Highlights

Introduction

Nelly is an American professional rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $8 Million.

He began his music career with the Midwest hip-hop group St. Lunatics in 1993. His album ‘Country Grammar’ is his best-selling album, selling over 8.4 million copies in the US.

Music Career

Nelly began his music career in 2000 when he released his debut album, ‘Country Grammar’. The album featured the hits ‘Country Grammar’, ‘E.I’, and ‘Ride Wit Me’. Two years later, Nelly released his second studio album, Nellyville, which was one of his most successful and acclaimed albums. The album topped the music charts and sold millions of copies worldwide.

In 2004, Nelly released his third studio album, Sweat. The album received positive reviews from music critics and peaked on the music charts in the U.S. and internationally. The following year, he played the role of ‘Earl Megget’ in the comedy film ‘The Longest Yard’. The film was a huge success at the box office. The same year he released his fifth studio album ‘Brass Knuckles’ which again was an incredible success for him.

In 2010, he released his sixth studio album, 5.0, which was released under the Universal Motown and the Derrty Ent labels. The single, ‘Just a Dream,’ from this album, was a massive hit. A year later, he made several cameo appearances on various television shows, including the reality show T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle and some episodes of 90210.

He released his second mixed tape, ‘Scorpio Season,’ in 2012. The same year, he played himself on the reality television show ‘The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep’. In 2013, he released the single ‘Hey Porsche’, which was part of his album ‘M.O’. He also announced that the album would feature singer Chris Brown in the song ‘Marry Go Round’.

HarborView Music Catalog Sale

In 2023, HarbourView Equity Partners purchased several of Nelly’s recorded music assets. The deal, reportedly valued at $50 million, covers 50% of his catalog, including some of his most iconic hits that dominated the Billboard Hot 100, such as “Ride Wit Me,” “Dilemma” featuring Kelly Rowland, and “Hot in Herre.”

Nelly expressed his desire for his music to be preserved and discovered by future generations. HarbourView’s founder, Sherrese Clarke Soares, emphasized the influence of Nelly’s work, blending hip-hop, R&B, and country, and the company’s excitement in adding these influential songs to its portfolio.

Tax Debts & Penalties

In September 2016, Nelly was issued an IRS tax lien totaling more than $2.4 million for 2013 and another separate lien from the Missouri Department of Revenue for nearly $150,000 in the same year. Fans of Nelly stepped in to help when a Spin Magazine article encouraged them to stream his songs to assist in paying off the debt. Using the hashtag #SaveNelly, the campaign saw a surge in streams of his hit song “Hot in Herre” on Spotify.

According to Spin, fans would need to stream the track at least 287 million times to cover his IRS debt, and reports confirm that streams tripled due to the campaign. Despite facing one of the highest celebrity tax debts ever, Nelly’s proactive approach to addressing his tax liabilities with legal assistance was critical in resolving his financial challenges.

Real Estate

In 2002, Nelly paid $1.925 million for a 10,799-square-foot, six-bedroom mansion in Eureka, Missouri. He planned to renovate the home thoroughly, and while some rooms, such as bathrooms, were partially remodeled, nothing was ever finished. As a result, the house was left vacant and even burglarized in 2009.

Nelly listed the property for sale in February 2021, asking for $599,000. According to reports, he received over fifty offers on the home, eventually selling above the asking price. Although that would equate to a base loss of roughly $1.3 million, after considering almost twenty years of the $20,000+ annual property taxes, agent fees, and the initial renovation works carried out, he potentially lost the entire $1.925 million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Nelly’s career:

• Dilemma (Song, 2002)
• My Place (Song, 2004)
• Grillz (Song, 2005)
• Just a Dream (Song, 2010)
• 5.0 (Album, 2010)